News

Team Twin Takes on IRONMAN Copenhagen

Inspirational brothers are set to complete their first marathon on Sunday.

by Dennis Friedrichsen

Twins Peder and Steen Mondrup were born in 1980, three months early and weighing just 1,200 grams each. Peder was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth and has been in a wheelchair his entire life. In the same vein as inspiring duo Dick and Rick Hoyt, the twin brothers have become unstoppable on the endurance circuit: Peder rides in a specially designed race wheelchair that Steen pushes. They ran a half marathon together this spring and, this weekend, will compete as part of a relay team at KMD IRONMAN Copenhagen to raise awareness and understanding for others in Peder's situation.

Peder has lived a full life, despite being in a wheelchair. When he and his brother ran the half marathon a few months ago, Peder says he felt like a regular participant and not "a guy in a wheelchair."

"Peder is a normal person merely affected by a handicap," Steen says. Moreover, being physically active makes Peder "feel the way he sees himself," something that no doubt brings value to Steen's life as well.
Steen, who has been fascinated with sports his whole life, considers an IRONMAN race to be the "craziest and most awesome experience to share with his brother." He says that after the completion of a half marathon, a full marathon is an exciting challenge.

Training for an IRONMAN is never easy and, for this pair, it has been no different. Peder's wheelchair arrived relatively late and Steen has already noticed how it changes running. "You can't use your arms the way you normally would," he says, although is aware that it is merely one more thing to get used to.

Though Steen has never completed a marathon, failure to finish on Sunday is not an option for the twins. They are excited to participate and to experience the unique support they will likely receive. The brothers have been inspired by the Hoyt's story and Steen even got advice from Dick Hoyt on how to handle different aspects of their situation.

Steen says the two have had some funny and strange questions from curious strangers, for instance, surrounding Peder's diet. "People just don't know any better," Steen says. It's this very ignorance the two hope to fight, as creating awareness might conquer the taboo of talking openly about physical and mental handicaps. Participating in the relay this weekend is simply their way of creating awareness and inspiring others to look at life in a different way.

Read more at teamtvilling.dk and be sure to cheer on Team Tvilling on race day: Swim—Anne Marie Nobel, bike—Tasja Stenum, run—Peder and Steen Mondrup.